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Free visits: a strategy to retain patients and improve continuity in a residency program.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Warshaw, G; Gehlbach, SH; Warburton, SW
Published in: J Fam Pract
November 1983

All family practice residencies attempt to offer continuity experience to residents and patients as part of their model practices. However, every year one third of the most experienced resident providers leave the practice to be replaced by new, inexperienced residents. This study reports a randomized controlled trial in which a sample of reassigned patients was offered a free visit with their new physician. The free visit was a scheduled appointment with the patient's newly assigned physician during a two-month period for the purpose of meeting the new physician. The offer of a free visit succeeded in helping patients make the initial office contact with their new physician. However, during six months of follow-up the free visit offer did not have an impact on visit frequency or primary provider continuity. In this study the reassignment of patients to new physician providers did not affect overall visit frequency, but did have a negative impact on primary provider continuity.

Duke Scholars

Published In

J Fam Pract

ISSN

0094-3509

Publication Date

November 1983

Volume

17

Issue

5

Start / End Page

865 / 868

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Primary Health Care
  • Patient Compliance
  • Office Visits
  • North Carolina
  • Internship and Residency
  • Humans
  • General & Internal Medicine
  • Fees, Medical
  • Family Practice
  • Continuity of Patient Care
 

Citation

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Warshaw, G., Gehlbach, S. H., & Warburton, S. W. (1983). Free visits: a strategy to retain patients and improve continuity in a residency program. J Fam Pract, 17(5), 865–868.
Warshaw, G., S. H. Gehlbach, and S. W. Warburton. “Free visits: a strategy to retain patients and improve continuity in a residency program.J Fam Pract 17, no. 5 (November 1983): 865–68.
Warshaw G, Gehlbach SH, Warburton SW. Free visits: a strategy to retain patients and improve continuity in a residency program. J Fam Pract. 1983 Nov;17(5):865–8.
Warshaw, G., et al. “Free visits: a strategy to retain patients and improve continuity in a residency program.J Fam Pract, vol. 17, no. 5, Nov. 1983, pp. 865–68.
Warshaw G, Gehlbach SH, Warburton SW. Free visits: a strategy to retain patients and improve continuity in a residency program. J Fam Pract. 1983 Nov;17(5):865–868.

Published In

J Fam Pract

ISSN

0094-3509

Publication Date

November 1983

Volume

17

Issue

5

Start / End Page

865 / 868

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Primary Health Care
  • Patient Compliance
  • Office Visits
  • North Carolina
  • Internship and Residency
  • Humans
  • General & Internal Medicine
  • Fees, Medical
  • Family Practice
  • Continuity of Patient Care